Afghans and Indians rally to support wounded girl

POLICE in Pakistan have arrested three suspects in connection with the attempted murder of Malala Yousafzai, the 14-year-old peace campaigner shot in the head, and the Taliban claimed the attack was months in the planning.

The schoolgirl faces a critical weekend as she fights for her life in hospital. Doctors said she remained unconscious but was in a ''satisfactory'' condition on Friday after being shot by a gunman who boarded her school bus on Tuesday.

Local television quoted police sources saying three key suspects had been detained and that officers were closing in on the mastermind behind the attack.

However, dozens of suspects have been arrested so far in the investigation - including the bus driver, school guards and witnesses - and all have been released on bail. Malala rose to prominence after she emerged as the author of a blog on the BBC Urdu service, which described life under the Taliban when they controlled her home town in the Swat Valley in 2009.

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A spokesman for the Swat branch of the Pakistan Taliban claimed the would-be assassins were drawn from a pool of 100 specially trained men. Speaking from Afghanistan, Sirajuddin Ahmad said the decision to attack her was made months ago.

''Before the attack, the two fighters personally collected information about Malala's route to school, timing, the vehicle she used and her security,'' he said. They decided to shoot her near a military checkpoint to make the point they could strike anywhere, he added. Vigils and prayer meetings were held for her around the country yesterday.

Seriously wounded ... 14-year-old Malala Yousafzai. Photo: Reuters

A group of 50 Islamic clerics in Pakistan issued a fatwa against the gunmen who tried to kill the teenager.

The Islamic scholars from the Sunni Ittehad Council publicly denounced attempts by the Pakistani Taliban to mount religious justifications for the shooting of Malala and two of her classmates.

A Taliban spokesman said they would attempt to kill Malala again if she recovered from her injuries.

Held high ... a young supporter holds up a photo of Malala Yousafzai. Photo: AFP

A spokesman for the Pakistani military said the next two days would be critical for her.

A national day of prayer was observed in schools and mosques for the young peace activist.